Improvement in corn-planters



2 Sheets Sheet-1 G; w. BROWN.

Corn-Planter.

- Patented Apr.

D m T W R E M P A R G O H H i 0 T 0 H F S- R 2 SheetsfSheet Z G. W. BROWN.

Com-Planter.

No. 42.179. Patented Apr. 5, 1864 Wa'nesses, Jwvewor;

N4 PETERS, PHOTD-LITHOGRAFHER WAHl NGTO n C.

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GEORGE V. BROWN, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-PLANTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2,179, dated April 5, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. BROWN, of Galesburg, in the county of Knox, in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Planting Seed; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification. The perspective view exhibits the general appearance of the machine and positions of the operators when it is used to plant in check-rows. The remaining figures exhibit the details of the machine.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the entire machine on the line S S in Fig.2, on ascale of about twoinches to the foot. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the entire machine. In both these figures the seed-hoppers are represented as with their covers removed. I employ covers of the usual character. Fig. 3 is a cross-section, showing the construction of one of the adj ustable connections which are adjusted by changing the positions of the bolts so as to widen and narrow the entire machine,

' including the reciprocating seed-bars H H H Fig. 4 is a corresponding section, showing the same connection as it appears after the machine has been adjusted for planting rows nearer together. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the parts which lie in the base of the right seed-hopper, on a scale about half size. This section is on the line S S in Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a plan "iew, representing some of the same parts. In this view the cap shown in Figs. 2 and 5 and the springs which serve as cut-offs forthe seed are supposed to have been removed. Fig". 7 is a cross-section of the same, and also of the maitl portion of the seed-tube, on the plane indicated by the line S S in Fig.6. Fig. 8 isan attempt to represent another relation or condition of the parts. Itis a section of two small portions ot'the same parts on two diflerentlines, to show the mode in which they match together at certain periods. The portion of the fork H is on the line S S in Fig. 6 and the portion of the seed-wheel I is on the line S S in the same figure. Fig. 9 is a front view of a portion showing the controlling slide Win the position for holding the drill mechanism out of use. Fig. 10 is a corresponding View, showing the slide in the position for allowing the drill mechanism to be operated and adjusted.

Fig. 11 is a view of the under side of one of the seed-boxes. It is a section on the line S S in Fig. 1. looking from below upward.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

Tints are used to aid in distinguishing parts, and do not indicate the materials intended, which may be wood and iron.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it by the aid of the drawings and ot' the letters of reference marked thereon.

A is the right side or the right half of the framing. A is the corresponding lefthalt,

and A A, &c., are intermediate portions of the framing which connect these parts. The peculiarity ot' the construction, in connection with the parts A A A, will be described far- I ther on. The forward portion of the framing which carries the runners and seedhoppers is connected to the main portion of the framing by ajoint or axis in the manner described in my patent dated May 8, 1855. The bolt which formsthe axis extends through the seedboxes, as indicated.

B B are the cylindrical drums or supporting-wheels. O O are the seed-tubes in the runners, and D D are the seed-hoppers. E is a lever, adapted to be operated by hand and to communicate the proper motion to the planting mechanism when planting in check-rows. All these parts are similar in their general construction and operation to corresponding parts described in the patent before referred to.

The elevated ways a are firmly supportedin the fixed framing in-the manner represented.

F is a movable seat, which is supported on a roller, f, and on which the driver may move himself forward and backward on the ways awith great facility. The seat F is supported in its proper position by the side arins,j", and the rollerf which extends across under the longitudinal piece a, and is kept up to its proper position by the slight additional longitudinal piece a.

The several pieces marked A may be made of cast-iron. They inclose the inner ends of rectangular cross-pieces of the framing A A in the manner represented plainly in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, and 10. The inclosed cross-pieces are provided with two or more holes, and by removing the bolts G l both the side frames, A A, with their several attachments, may be moved bodilyinward or made toapproach each other until. a different series of holes in A and A coincidewith the holes in A and receive the bolts G G The transverse reciprocatin 7 adapted again to operate,but planting in rows nearer together than before. The reverse operation widens the machine and correspondingly widens the spaces between the rows. The transverse reciprocating bar H H H carries at each end forks, the form of which is indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

The seed is measured off and transferred from the seed-hoppers into the seed-tubes by means of horizontal wheels 1 1 which are shaped as represented, and are adapted to receive the seed in perforations or seed-cups t" 71 and by the rotation of these wheels to carry the contents ofthe cups under suitable cut-offs,

' J J ,to deliver into the sqed-tubes. The wheels 1 l are operated with a positive motion just far enough and no farther at each movement of the hand-lever E in either direction. The lever E being pulled by the operator turns on its fulcrum e, and carries the reciprocating bar H H H to the right. This movement gives a partial rotation to both wheels 1 l lteffect-s this by thrusting the forward arm of the fork H against one of the teeth of the wheel 1, and by pulling the hook or shoulder on the rear arm of the fork H against one of the teeth of the wheel 1 The, return movement of the hand-lever E moves the bar H H H in the opposite direction and gives an equal further motion to both the seed-wheels l 1 by the thrusting of the forward arm of the fork H against the tooth of the wheel 1 and by the drawing action of the rearward arm of the fork H, which is provided with a shoulder or hook, K, corresponding to the before-described hook. The wheels 1 and l are by these op-' erations turned equally at each movement of the lever E. The term given to the teeth or projections on the seed-wheels 1 1 and to the parts of the forks H H which come in contact therewith is very important and requires a very particular explanation. When the movement of the bar H H H in either direction is effected rapidly the inertia of the wheels I 1 tends to continue their motion and throw them too far around, and cause the wheels to come to rest in a false position. I avoid this evil.

by causing certain obtuse angles or slight projections on the wheels 1 l to strike at the proper time, and rest fairly against the inner faces of the forks H H Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 indicate the exact forms of these parts half size. The Wheels 1 l are about a half inch in thickness at the periphery. The upper half 'of this thickness is differently formed at the periphery from the correspondin g part of the lower half, and performs a different function. The lower half presents angles in this part, which are designated L. The corresponding points on the upper half are rounded, and are distinguished by theletter l. The form of the inner faces of the arms of the forks H H is also important. At the points on the inner surfaces of the forks H H which at the end of each of the sudden movements,-lie opposite to the slight projections or obtuse angles L the fork has a perpendicular face extending its full depth; but when the succeeding or return movementof the bar H H H has progressed a little ways a recess, h, which 18 formed as represented on each inner face of the forks H H is presented to thecorrespond- 'ing angle L, and the angle enters it, thus allowing the wheel to turn freely again in obedience to the impulse which it then commences to receive from the other arm of the fork, and thus the operation proceeds with certainty and precision.

P l? are castings, which serve as covering plates or caps for my seed-wheels l 1 The openings therein to present the seed to the seed-wheels extend around nearly the entire working-surfaces of the latter. There is a broad projection extending over that part of the wheel where the seed is delivered to the seed-tubes; and pp are slender arms or agitators cast upon-the caps and standingin the positions represented. Each entire cap, with the several projections referred to and the attached cut-off Jor J ,is removable on turning the corresponding wedge-shaped button clord and raising the cap on that side, so as to'draw it out in the obvious manner. The office of my cut-offs J J is to form a yielding or elastic bar to separate the seed in the seed-cups from their companions as the revolution of the seed-wheels presents them thereto. I employ elastic plates of metal for the purpose. There are four seedcups which are to be thus treated at the same time in each seed-wheel, and I provide four corresponding springs or cut-offs, arranged as represented by J, 800., J, 860.

The seed tubes 0 (J are formed in the widened rear ends of the runners. M is a fixed partition standing therein in the position represented, and the vibrating valve or flipperN is correspondingly divided to adapt itself thereto. The upper extremity of each flipper is urged in opposite directions by the projection 1. and 2 on the rear arm of the corresponding forked part at each half-movement or change of position of the bar H H H from one extreme position to the other, and performs the same duties as in my former patent above referred to. The fixed partition M is made of sheet metal, as represented, and is thin at its upper edge. Each is so placed as to receive the seed from some of the seed-cups i i on its front side and the seed from others on its rear side. They increase in thickness below, so as to separate the seed in front a considerable distance from the seed in the rear of the partition. A continuation, m, of the partition beow the pivot n is matched into the fixed part M, and is narrowed in the transverse direction at. the base, as represented in Fig. 7. fixed on and vibrates with the flipper N. I thus avoid dividing the latter at the bottom. The two quantities of seed may be separated by this means to any distance desired within reasonable limits by usingvery capacious seedtubes and modilying the form of the lower parts of the partitions, as will be obvious to mechanics. I prefer to divide it about two inches, as indicated in the drawings.

Z Z, 850., are slides which may be readily adjusted by the attendant. They are adapted I \ch to cover a portion of the top of its respective seed-tube, and to prevent the dropping of any seed from one corresponding seedcup i '5 It will be observed that these slides coincide in position with the four seed-cups which deliver at the same time, and in practice I have found that with the proportions and arrangement indicated but one grain of corn is ordinarily carried in each seed-cup. The four seed-cups in each wheel which deliver simultaneously are all arranged in radial series. The several slides Z are adapted to close three in each series and prevent the seed therein from dropping out. I provide a narrow slide, 2, adapted to but partially cover the remaining cup in each series, and I provide a transverse slide, 0, adaptedrto lock either or all the slides in either the open or shut position, as desired. It et't'ects this by standing in contact with knobs or projections on the under side of the latter. as represented. By drawing out all the slidesI plant four grains of corn in ear-h hill. If I slide in one of the slides Z, 1 plant but three grains in each hill. The drawings represent all the slides forced in, and my'machine may by such means be adjusted to plant no corn at all. The narrow slide 2 is sufficiently wide to stop a grain of corn, and either of the slides may be opened or closed with equal effect in planting corn.

Itissometimesdesirable to plant seeds which are considerably smaller than corn. In such case one of toy small seed-cups alone may contain a sufficient quantity,in which case 1 close the three slides Z Z Z and leave one, a, open. In some cases-as, for example, in planting broom-corn, sorghum, etc-even one entire seed-cup may contain too large a quantity of such seed, and it is desirable to be able to retain a part of the contents of a cup and deliver into the seed-tube the remainder. I accomplish this by the aid of my narrow slide 2, which is only wide enough to close about twothirds of the corresponding seed-cup. By pushing in or closing all the slides 1 plant at each motion of the bar H only about half of the contents of the seed-cup, which is partially cov ered by the narrow slide 2. This accomplishes the end very satisfactorily.

I can, if desired, make the slide a longer and capable of more motion and of several adjustments, and make the same of several different It is" widths at ditferent points, or of a uniformlytapered form from one end to the other. I can then,.by adjusting the slide,graduate the openingfor the passage of small seeds past such slide, so as to plant more or less at pleasure;

- but I do not in practice consider it necessary to do so.

I will now describe the parts by which I operate these wheels automatically and very rapidly when planting in drills.

The distance apart at which the seed may be deposited in the rows or drills by the aid of my invention may be determined with great accuracy, and a variety of distances may be selected. I usually construct the machine so that the seed may be dropped at either of the following distances apart: eight and one-halt inches,t'ourteen inches,t\venty-one inches, and forty-two inches. The variations in the distances are produced by varying the number of pins which are arranged in a circular series on the inner face of the wheel B.

T are the pins referred to. They are firmly set by screwing them tightlyin corresponding holes in a stout metal ring. These holes are distributed so that on reducing the number of pins the remainder maybe equally distributed around the entire circle.

U is a yoke or slide adapted to reciprocate forward and backward,accordingasitsinclined faces a are alternately acted on by thepins T.

Anti-friction wheels are provided to aid in reducing the resistance to its motion.

V is a bell-crank lever, mounted on a fixed tulcrunno, and adapted to reciprocate in the horizontal plane according as the yoke U is operated. The long arm of this lever extends forward, and is adapted to be connected at pleasure to the seeding apparatus by dropping its extremity into a slot in the part H. In this condition the machine is driven forward and the action of the pins T induces a vibrating motion of the bell-crankleverV,and consequently a succession of reciprocations ot' the seeding devices and corresponding movements of the seed-wheels I 1 It will of course be observed that it a sufficient quantity of seed is dropped in this manner at proper distances apart the effect will be very nearly equivalent to the planting by hand. The dift'erence is that in this drilling or automatic planting last described the hills are not arranged in check-rows, and the corn cannot be subsequently cultivated by cross-plowing; but by disconnecting these parts and operating by the hand-lever E, instead of by my drilling mechanism, the hills may be check-rowed very accurately.

WVhen planting by the aid of the hand-lever E it is well not only to disconnect the leverV by lifting its forward extremity out of the slot H, but also to prevent the leverVfrom vibrating at all. I accomplish this by the aid ofthe slide or sliding lever W. This latter is slotted to receive the lever V, and is adapted to turn slightly as it slides upon the bolt 10, which latteris fixed in the frame-work. On leaving this sliding lever W at liberty it assumes a position in which it becomes of no effect, but on drawing it forcibly to the left andthrus'tingits tight extremity under the stop or hook to, which is fixed on the framing, it holds the leverVin such a position that its inclined faces a u are carried too far forward to be touched, andtlie pins T traverse freely around without coming in contact with anything. This is the condition represented in Figs. 1 and 2.

X X are scrapers mounted on eyes so, so that they are free to turn.

Y Y are levers connected therewith in the manner represented and free to turn on the fixed fulcra y. The forward ends of these levers are within reach of the operator, and by placing his foot on either or on both at once the corresponding scrapers may be pressed with sufficient force against the peripheries of their respective wheels. On removing the foot the gravity of the parts induces a removal of the scrapers to a little distance, as represented. The levers Y Y may be dispensed with, if desired, by extending the arms X backward instead of forward from the eyes m and applying the foot or other force directly thereto; but I prefer the arrangement shown. 3

It will be observed that while my parts A embrace and'com pletely encircle the inner ends.

of the transverse pieces A A it is not essential to the tightness of the fitting together of the parts that A. A shall be exactly equal in size to the interior of the casting A, because the nuts amt washers which are titted on'the bolts G G2 do not bear against the cross parts the action of the same on the teeth of I I more certain; but I have not found such necessary in practice.

It will be observed that, by reason of my partition or division M in the seed-tube 0 G I am able to distribute a portion of the seed in the forward and another portion in the rear part of the seed-tube, and thus to effectually avoid the possibility of the whole'quantity of seed dropping close together. It usually happens in practice that the grains of corn be come slightly scattered in the act of dropping from the lower end of the flipper or vibrating valve N to the bottom of the path excavated by the runner. By dividing my tube by the partition M in the manner shown I throw a portion ot'the seed to the extreme front side ofthe seed-tube, and another portion to the extreme rear side, and the agitation or tendency to scatter due to the falling and bounding slightly on the earth in practice scatters my corn to just about the right extent; but it is done more uniformly than when the division M is not used.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to seeure by this patent, is as follows:

In combination with duplicate seed-cups 1'. i and a vibrating valve, N, operating substantially as described, the employment of the partition or division M m in the seed-tube, adapted to serve substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. WV. BROWN.

Witnesses:

S. G. CUMMINGS, THOMAS D. STE'ISON. 

